Effect of stress on gout?

[c matthews]

I am starting to think that stress plays a larger part in my gout attacks than I initially thought.

I try and limit my alcohol intake , reduce my purine intake , exercise , eats lots of fruit etc .
However , my last attack came when I was stressed out concerned about my son travelling the world alone .

Does stress play a major part in gout ?

[Jeem]

Just been looking into this myself ,

there is a lot of info on the web saying it does .

Jeem

[hyperuric]

Stress affects people differently. My own experience - Yes, stress can trigger an attack.

[Alistair]

I think The affect of stress is differently on every people.

[podagra]

The important question is how can stress cause a gout attack?
Stress causes the release of cortisol, adrenalin, noradrenalin, etc, these hormones cause hypertension and tachycardia and reduce circulation in the extremities (lowering the temperature and oxygen levels, both of which induce gout). Stress increases magnesium elimination and magnesium plays an important part in gout. Stress increases appetite and makes you more likely to eat fatty and junk foods, resulting in weight gain, inflammation, etc, that cause gout. Stress makes you breath shallower and more often, reducing oxygenation and blood pH, and acidic blood is crucial for a gout attack.
Most importantly, the pain of a gout attack exacerbates stress and depression, causing a feedback loop.
So yes, stress fosters gout and depression and viceversa. You can reduce stress by learning to control it, breath deeply and slowly, take magnesium, execise, etc, and stopping gout by eliminating excess iron and molybdenum through blood donation, etc,

http://www.goutonline.net/showthread.php?t=10755